DAHS Team Wins DuBois Area Senior Scholastic Challenge Again

Shown are members of the DuBois Area High School Academic Challenge Team, which won the 27th annual DuBois Area Senior Scholastic Challenge title at Penn State DuBois on March 26. From left are coach Barry L. Gallagher, Jacob Skubisz, Josh Sanko, Aaron Lines, Jared Wolfe and Austin Songer. (Provided photo)

DUBOIS – The DuBois Area High School Academic Team won its third straight DuBois Area Senior Scholastic Challenge title at the DuBois Campus of Penn State on March 26.

Seven area teams competed and the final four advanced to the championship round. In the finals, the DAHS team scored 200 points followed by Punxsutawney with 100 points, Brookville with 40 points and DuBois Central Catholic with 30 points.

The DAHS team, coached by Barry Gallagher, consisted of Jacob Skubisz, Josh Sanko, Aaron Lines, Jared Wolfe and Austin Songer. Team member John Adams was unable to attend as he was representing the school at the state chorus competition. The competition is hosted by Carol Foltz of Coldwell Bank Developac Realty and Dr. Henry G. dela Torre.

Songer was the top overall scorer in the competition followed by Skubisz.

In February, the team claimed the Riverview Intermediate Unit 6 title and will represent the IU at the State Championship in Harrisburg on May 2. On March 22, the team competed in the Battle of the ‘Burgh and placed third with a 10-2 record. Among its wins was a victory over nationally-ranked Northmont from Dayton, Ohio, and their superior player, Sam Blizzard, who is recognized as one of the top Quiz-bowl players in the United States. According to coach Gallagher, it was a grueling day, but the team was rewarded with a formal invitation to play in the PACE NSC Championship in Reston, Va., on May 24-25. A total of 96 teams will be entered from across the country. Last year, 29 states were represented at PACE.

This will complete the team’s goal of appearing in all three nationals over the last three years, as they went to NAQT in Atlanta in 2012, NAC in Alexandria, Va., in 2013 and now the PACE in 2014.

The four members of the “A” Team to compete at states and nationals will be seniors Austin Songer (Captain), Jacob Skubisz (Alternate Captain), John Adams (Alternate Captain) and Aaron Lines. Junior Jared Wolfe will be the alternate if any of the four cannot compete.